Winning has become second nature for Scottie Scheffler, but his victory on Sunday at the Memorial Tournament was far from ordinary.
Scottie Scheffler Unusual Path to Victory
Scheffler clinched the win with only one birdie, ending with a 2-over 74, his highest final round in two years. Victory was uncertain until Scheffler confidently sank a downhill 5-foot putt. This secured a one-shot victory over Collin Morikawa and earned a congratulatory handshake from tournament host Jack Nicklaus.
“You’re a survivor,” Nicklaus told him. “Thanks,” Scheffler replied. “Yeah, you made this place brutal today.”
Overcoming Challenges at Muirfield Village
The conditions at Muirfield Village were tough, with ultra-firm greens and swirling winds causing havoc. Only six players managed to break par, and the average score hovered just below 75. Starting four shots ahead, Scheffler never lost the lead but felt the pressure from Morikawa and Adam Hadwin throughout the day. The final hole required par to clinch the victory.
“This is a tough place to close out,” Scottie Scheffler noted. “I didn’t do a whole lot great today, but I did enough.”
A Stressful Finish
Leading Morikawa by one shot, both golfers faced difficult approach shots on the 18th hole, landing in the rough. Both chipped to around 5 feet, but it was Scheffler’s putt that secured the win, demonstrated by his emphatic fist pump.
Adding to the day’s significance was a special moment shared with Nicklaus and the presence of Scheffler’s month-old son Bennett, attending his first PGA Tour event.
Scottie Scheffler reminisced about 2021 when he missed a crucial putt on the final hole, and Nicklaus had told him, “One day, you’ll make that putt on 18, and I’ll be here to shake your hand.” Reflecting on that as he approached Nicklaus after the win made the moment even more special.
Morikawa and Hadwin’s Pursuit
Morikawa, in the final group of both majors this year, kept the pressure on Scheffler with a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-3 12th. He finished with a 71, the only player in the final 13 groups to break par. Hadwin was in contention until three consecutive bogeys led to a 74 and a third-place finish.
Financial Rewards and Records
Scheffler finished at 8-under 280, winning $4 million from the Memorial’s $20 million purse. This victory pushed his season earnings over $24 million, breaking the PGA Tour season earnings record he set last year. He also became the first player since Tom Watson in 1980 to win five times on the PGA Tour before the U.S. Open.
Looking Ahead to the U.S. Open
Scottie Scheffler heads to the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 as a strong favorite, marking his 11th consecutive top-10 finish. Morikawa, who earned $2.2 million, has a significant cushion as he aims for a spot on the American team for the Olympics in Paris.
Hadwin’s performance edged him ahead of Corey Conners for the second Canadian spot in the Olympics, with the world rankings after the U.S. Open determining the final selections.
Lessons from Celtics vs. Mavericks Game 1: Just Win
Key Moments and Future Prospects
Scottie Scheffler had only one birdie, a 10-foot putt on the sixth hole, and missed two crucial birdie opportunities on the back nine. However, his pivotal putt on the par-3 16th hole gave him a two-shot lead. He dropped a shot on the 17th, bringing the margin back to one as he faced the challenging 18th hole.
The Memorial’s demanding conditions served as preparation for the upcoming U.S. Open. “You could look at it one of two ways,” Hadwin said. “Either it’s good prep for next week or we just got our butts kicked before going into next week.”
Scottie Scheffler Impressive Record
For Scheffler, this victory marked his 11th career PGA Tour win and 12th worldwide. He has shown versatility by winning in various ways—either pulling away early or coming from behind. Despite nearly losing a four-shot lead this time, he secured another major win against a strong field. This victory adds to his impressive list of achievements, including wins at Bay Hill, Hilton Head, The Players Championship, and his second Masters title.
